Friday, February 19, 2016

A Philosophy of Skincare: The Artistry of Handcrafting







I have been herbalist for over thirty years now and still believe that pure plant based ingredients are best suited for the our skin. Because of our shared ecological evolution, I believe  they are the most compatible;  amazingly simple yet astonishingly complex in their biochemical interactions with our human physiology. Imagine you stop and admire a simple wild rose growing in the garden. You can't resist its beauty, the softness of its petals and gentle aroma, and the seemingly simplicity of its design. I, too, appreciate this experience and know it as one of life's true pleasures. What I also see, however, is a multitude of complex elements found in the wild rose, a group of chemical components that form the foundation of its physical aromatic beauty -  the yin and yang of wild rose. 

It is this dynamic that is the essence of GENbotanicals skin care collections, the blending and balance of rich botanical ingredients that are the substance of your skincare. I apply this philosophy to every sphere of GEN from formulation to packaging to marketing. Each handcrafted product is a work of both art and science, it is alive with the botanical elements we know to be the safest and most effective for a good, basic skincare routine using only organic natural and essential oils, plant extracts, herbal flowers, tea leaves, and earthen clays. 
 handcrafting is at the heart of GEN. There are certain rules in the art of judging botanicals. The first and simplest is appearance; is the herb, oil, or tea rich in color, what is the texture, taste and aroma of this potential ingredient, and most important, how will it benefit the skin. For example, a quality camellia oil will present with a light golden color, feels light on the skin, absorb easily with little scent. Pomegranate, a very distinct oil, is similar in color to camellia, yet, a  thick oil with the aroma of heaviness indicating its richness. Such characteristics that I judge for in every ingredient in your skincare. 

After choosing the appropriate ingredients the blending process depends on the intended use of the product. I believe that blends for facial care using natural and essential oils are most effective when the oils are allowed to mix and harmonize together. For this reason, I use a formulation technique that includes a gentle hand rolling of each bottle several times throughout the day to insure a truly blended mixture, followed by a 24-36 hour relax time for the blend. After years of blending oils I have learned that newly prepared essential oil blends can be quite strong in a formulation, therefore, the blend needs time for the essential oils to  develop their true aroma for your finished product. My process for blending floral hydrolates is very similar to my facial serums. The liquid are mixed together, gently shaken, again allowed to rest  for complete blending a development of the finished aroma. My masque and exfoliant require a different, more strenuous, blending method. Powdered herbal flowers, teas, grain and clays are mediums of varying weights and blended at different proportions. I never want you to open your jar of white tea and jasmine masque and find the rhassoul clay, heavier that most of the my other ingredients, has settled to the bottom of the jar. To this end, I add a small portion of each ingredient, mix and stir, add ingredients again, mix and stir until I have an equally proportioned, luxurious blend for your finished product. 

 A good, basic skincare routine is not just for the aging, it is for everyone regardless of age and skin condition. While mature skin benefits from a restorative based skin care routine, younger, generally healthy skin still needs skin protection and preservation as the skin changes throughout all of our life cycles. GEN has provided skincare collections across the age spectrum; from women in their twenties and thirties needing just extra hydration, to women in their forties and fifties who are beginning to notice a few fine lines, and our eighties & nineties group who want extra moisture or just like the smell of our true rose and jasmine scents. 
GEN's skincare collections will benefit most skin types and one of my collections may be beneficial to your particular skin condition. Please contact us, and we will be happy to help you chose the right collection for your skin's needs.

To see GEN's botanical luxury skincare collections, please visit us at https://www.genbotanicals.com

Warm regards,

D.Smith - founder of genbotanicals